Corporate and Foundation Relations

Advancement leaders are under pressure to grow philanthropic revenue from every available source. As a result, many chief advancement officers are increasingly concerned that their institutions are not maximizing giving from corporations and foundations.

However, the corporate and foundation philanthropy landscape has become more competitive in recent years. Corporations are building deeper partnerships with fewer organizations and supporting projects that contribute to their business goals. Foundations are limiting funding to projects with a defined scope and high potential for large-scale social impact, and they are prioritizing institutions with whom they have previously worked.

Despite this competitiveness, colleges and universities have key opportunities to expand current corporate and foundation relations (CFR) engagements and gain new partners through strategic investments and planning. This research report is organized in three sections to maximize your institution’s unique potential for CFR growth. Explore the sections below, or download the full research brief.

1. Understand your institution’s CFR potential

Complete this opportunity diagnostic to determine where your institution has the greatest CFR potential. The results of the diagnostic will emphasize where to focus immediate efforts—maximizing current engagements or laying the groundwork for future success.

2. Maximize current engagements with one-stop shops

If your institution has already established successful partnerships with corporations and/or foundations, use the practices in this section to deepen current relationships. Creating a unified experience on campus will encourage external supporters to increase their engagement over time.

3. Lay groundwork for future success

If you are in the early stages of building a CFR program or do not yet have substantial external partnerships, begin by engaging internal stakeholders. Explore the practices in this section to build a culture of collaboration among campus partners.